MartyB
Well-Known Member
Hi, guys and gals.
Native Detroiter, long-time lurker (see my Welcome post). I am quite excited to join the bunch here, as I have lurked around all the other forums (FABO etc) and feel this one is the friendliest!
So tomorrow, I'm headed out to see an '84 FA. As you can see by the pix, it looks like the guy tried to make an AHB clone. The attempt hasn't been bad in many respects. He is a master mechanic. His shop gets solid reviews. He rebuilt and dropped a 360/727 in it, swapped out the butt end so as to get Sure Grip with 3.23 gear set, rebuilt the suspension with heavy duty parts/sway bars etc., did a repaint on what he says was a solid bod, sourced and installed new upholstery that is near flawless.
Damn.
Now that said, I don't like the split personality look of an FA grille (hopefully intact under that push bar) and stripper body. Here's my questions for ya...
1. I've seen a vendor customautotrim.com mentioned here. Does anyone think I can have my superb body guy approximate the original wheel/rocker/door trim using their materials? Guessing NOS stuff would be hard to come by.
2. Thoughts on Grant or other aftermarket steering wheels? Want one that says swanky, not muscle.
3. Aftermarket wheels. Any votes on what would look elegant, not AHB? Do those wire wheels at wheel vintiques make you shudder or oooh-ahh? What about the turbine wheels (Lincoln sourced, I believe) I saw on an M here? Don't want some durned 24-inch gaudy nightmares. Again, looking for a luxo look that is part of the FA's DNA. This ride is going for $4.9k. That gives me a fair amount of leftover bucks to spiff her up.
Thanks for any and all input! Third pic is of those turbine wheels I saw here.
Native Detroiter, long-time lurker (see my Welcome post). I am quite excited to join the bunch here, as I have lurked around all the other forums (FABO etc) and feel this one is the friendliest!
So tomorrow, I'm headed out to see an '84 FA. As you can see by the pix, it looks like the guy tried to make an AHB clone. The attempt hasn't been bad in many respects. He is a master mechanic. His shop gets solid reviews. He rebuilt and dropped a 360/727 in it, swapped out the butt end so as to get Sure Grip with 3.23 gear set, rebuilt the suspension with heavy duty parts/sway bars etc., did a repaint on what he says was a solid bod, sourced and installed new upholstery that is near flawless.
Damn.
Now that said, I don't like the split personality look of an FA grille (hopefully intact under that push bar) and stripper body. Here's my questions for ya...
1. I've seen a vendor customautotrim.com mentioned here. Does anyone think I can have my superb body guy approximate the original wheel/rocker/door trim using their materials? Guessing NOS stuff would be hard to come by.
2. Thoughts on Grant or other aftermarket steering wheels? Want one that says swanky, not muscle.
3. Aftermarket wheels. Any votes on what would look elegant, not AHB? Do those wire wheels at wheel vintiques make you shudder or oooh-ahh? What about the turbine wheels (Lincoln sourced, I believe) I saw on an M here? Don't want some durned 24-inch gaudy nightmares. Again, looking for a luxo look that is part of the FA's DNA. This ride is going for $4.9k. That gives me a fair amount of leftover bucks to spiff her up.
Thanks for any and all input! Third pic is of those turbine wheels I saw here.
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